Welcome to my weekly publish once I share some footage and highlights from the previous week + what I’m studying, watching, and listening to. I additionally share hyperlinks to posts or different fascinating issues I don’t need you to overlook.

It was colonoscopy week — and I bought a number of requests to please share all the particulars of the method and the prep. So I shared a number of particulars on Instagram for these !

(I had colonoscopy and endoscopy with the intention to attempt to decide the basis reason behind my persistent anemia.)

I did a low residue weight loss plan (no fiber) three days earlier than and I’d positively do that once more as I feel it made the prep simpler! You may see an instance of what I ate on this weight loss plan right here.

The toughest a part of the entire course of was the 36 hours of clear liquid weight loss plan. I didn’t anticipate to be SO hungry — like couldn’t perform, needed to lie down, mind fog hungry. Looking back, I’d have gotten extra jello, exhausting candies, gummy bears, and Italian ice had I do know I used to be going to really feel so famished! See extra what I “ate” on my clear liquid weight loss plan right here.

(And I saved considering of people that all the time need to eat a liquid weight loss plan, who’ve a feeding tube, or who’re experiencing true starvation and hunger and it gave me new appreciation for a lot I normally take as a right.)

I took 4 Dulcolax to begin the prep and it labored very successfully and quick — and I used to be nauseous and uncomfortable for an hour after which I used to be good.

After which I had a number of Miralax blended with Gatorade to ensure I used to be absolutely cleaned out. This half was actually easy and I simply took it straightforward, stayed near the toilet, and watched When Calls the Coronary heart.

I ended up sleeping a lot of the evening (I had prepped I is likely to be up all evening and be depressing) after which began one other spherical of Miralax and Gatorade within the morning beginning at 5:30 a.m.

Preparing to return for my endoscopy and colonoscopy. This man was so wonderful this pasdt week – he all the time takes such excellent care of me!

He did two grocery runs to choose up all my provides for the colonoscopy then went and bought me tea with additional honey, Jello, and Italian ice once I was so hungry on my clear liquid weight loss plan.

Then, he did all the varsity dropoffs and pickups for 2 days and took care of the children whereas I used to be within the Gatorade/Miralax prepping half 🙃 after which drove me to the process and stayed there with me.

Marriage is usually not huge grand gestures however small little actions and sacrifices added up that say,
“I really like you.”

We truly didn’t have fun Valentine’s Day this yr collectively as a result of Jesse is out of city (he and Silas are on a ski journey in Utah), however we attempt to have fun it day by day of the yr with little gestures and acts of kindness. And I really feel like that’s actually what issues probably the most.

10 Issues That Shocked Me About My First Colonoscopy/Endoscopy…

1) The prep was a lot simpler than I anticipated, however…
2) The 24+ hours of clear liquid weight loss plan was a lot more durable than I anticipated — I used to be so hungry and had a variety of mind fog and was feeling so weak. (I used to be so glad I had deliberate to not do a lot work that day!)
3) Mixing the MiraLAX & Gatorade after which divvying it up into smaller bottles and refrigerating it made it truly style fairly good (or perhaps I used to be simply so hungry that it didn’t style unhealthy!)
4) I didn’t expertise hardly any discomfort through the prep aside from an hour of nausea after I took the Dulcolax.
5) I used to be anticipating simply gentle sedation for the process so was actually stunned after they put an IV in and gave me oxygen.
6) I used to be anxious it’d take me a bit to fall asleep. However inside actually two seconds of the anesthesiologist telling me he was beginning the meds, I used to be out.
7) I don’t keep in mind one single factor till an hour later after they have been speaking loudly over telling me I wanted to get up.(I assume it took a number of tries to get me to get up Jesse mentioned.)
8) My first thought after they woke me up was, “Please let me return to sleep. Don’t wake me up!”
9) I had no ache or discomfort of any type, aside from in my esophagus the place they did some biopsies.
10) It took me just a few hours to assume clearly. I couldn’t appear to recollect phrases once I was attempting to speak and when Kathrynne known as to inform me one thing about her day, I couldn’t monitor with what she was saying. I understood the phrases however may make sense of what it meant. It was the weirdest factor. 🫣

General, it was a extremely good expertise! The colonoscopy and endoscopy seemed good — nothing regarding and every thing seemed usually and wholesome internally. They did biopsies and we’re awaiting the outcomes of that + I’ve one other take a look at subsequent week after which I’d want one other scope, relying upon the outcomes from that. We’re hoping to get some solutions from that, however we’ll see!

I used to be SO excited to get to eat some non-liquid meals… however since I’d had the endoscopy and a number of biopsies, they beneficial solely gentle meals, so I had mashed potatoes and mac & cheese and it felt just like the BEST mac & cheese and mashed potatoes I’d ever eaten! 🙂

Jesse and Silas went to Goal and got here again with these tulips for me. I assume Micah noticed them and insisted that they get these for me for Valentine’s Day. It was the sweetest gesture from my boys.

Kierstyn and Micah had Historical past Week at their little classical college all final week. They studied about Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. On the final day, they might gown up, so Kierstyn wore this gown… and as quickly as she put it on, she seemed SO grown up hastily!

Ebook I Completed This Week

Don’t Burn Your Personal Home Down — This guide impressed me in so many sensible methods to to prioritize Jesse extra and to note many little and large areas I may enhance in to assist him really feel extra liked, supported, and seen. I liked how sincere the creator was but additionally how sensible and tangible it was. I positively advocate it in case you are both struggling in your marriage or simply hoping to proceed constructing a deeper connection. Take heed to the podcast episode I did with the creator right here.

What I’m Watching

The Olympics, after all, identical to final week. I additionally watched fairly just a few episodes of When Calls the Coronary heart.

Psst! Should you didn’t see, you may watch the Olympics free of charge by signing up for a free Walmart+ trial!

In Case You Missed It – Posts From This Week

This Week’s Podcast Episode

This week on The Crystal Paine Present, I need to speak about one thing that has unexpectedly modified my life this yr – what I jokingly name my “grandma hobbies period.” After I first shared that phrase on-line, it stirred up extra emotions than I ever anticipated. Some individuals actually liked it, however some have been actually bothered by it. For me, it’s a playful option to describe one thing deeply significant: selecting actions that gradual me down, calm my physique, and assist me really feel current once more!

Two years in the past, if I had heard myself speaking excitedly about puzzles, watercoloring, or crocheting a shawl, I in all probability would have thought one thing had gone very flawed. Again then, my life was stuffed with adrenaline, fixed urgency, and unending to-do lists. I didn’t understand how tightly I used to be residing till I began to loosen my grip, and with the encouragement of my practical medication physician, I started deliberately creating area – working fewer hours, constructing in white area, and letting go of the necessity to all the time be “on,” and in that area, I discovered myself drawn to easy, artistic issues that didn’t demand something from me different than simply my consideration.

Pay attention on this episode as Jesse and I open up truthfully about what it has been prefer to step out of combat mode and learn to relaxation, and I share how scary it felt to cut back my work hours because the CEO of an organization, how a lot nervousness that stirred up, and the way it revealed an idol of management that I hadn’t even realized I had. I additionally share the shocking ways in which God met me in that place – financially, emotionally, and spiritually – once I in the end selected to belief as an alternative of hustle.

Jesse and I additionally speak about what it appears like when your calendar lastly has respiratory room, when your to-do record doesn’t fill the web page, and when individuals begin to really feel like alternatives as an alternative of interruptions. We snigger about puzzles, sourdough, and my very versatile relationship with recipes, however much more than that, we speak about what it means to reside from a calmer place and present up extra absolutely to the individuals and work we love!

Please tune on this week, particularly in case you are drained, operating on adrenaline, or craving a slower, richer option to reside. Possibly it’s time to search out your personal model of a “grandma pastime.” I hope that this dialog encourages you, and, as all the time, I’d love to listen to from you, so please be at liberty to achieve out!

Inform me about your week! Something fascinating occur? Did you learn any good books, watch any good reveals, or deal with any initiatives?